Thiago Translantara

[Youngie]

Ball control and technique are vital in scoring goals, creating positions to score a goal or make an assist etc.

So Gerd Müller had great "Ball control and technique"? The guy was a poacher.

 

[Kerrybai]

It's going to be interesting once Xavi retires to see the hierarchy between Iniesta, Cesc and Thiago in the midfield. Presuming Iniesta maintains a good level of form when that happens, he will automatically take one of those spots so Cesc and Thiago will be in direct competition for the other position. I think Cesc will initially be given the spot but if Thiago continues to progress there is no guarantee that this will remain the case. Of course, between the three of them they will all get plenty of games in rotation but as Kerrybai said, who will start in the Champions League final or the Classicos when they are all fit?

Iniesta was slowly integrated into the first team over a number of seasons and by the time Xavi retires, Thiago will be roughly be the same age as when Iniesta was when he became an automatic first choice in the midfield. Will we see a situation where Thiago becomes frustrated not starting in the really big games and seeks another club where he will be more appreciated? Will we see a situation where he surpasses Cesc and Cesc leaves Barca once again? Or will the two of them both occupy the midfield and Iniesta is moved to the left or some other attacking midfield role?

It seems to me that unless our future strongest starting 11 is able to contain all three players, one of Cesc or Thiago will likely move to another big club to become a star player there in a few years. I think this will more likely be the case with Cesc if Thiago surpasses him as he is older than Thiago and probably feels more entitled to a first team spot . If Cesc was the player starting ahead of Thiago, Thiago would probably be more likely to stay and fight for his place but that may just be wishful thinking on my part. This is obviously a good problem and not a bad problem but it could be a problem none the less.

It's an interesting point and I think that provided both players are willing to accept a relatively equal share then there should be no problem. Say we have Iniesta, Thiago and Fabregas and we have 58 games in a season in 2 years time where Xavi aged 35 decides to hang up his boots. The management could give Fab and Thiago a more or less equal share of Xavi's games. Meanwhile Iniesta will be 30 so starting him for 58 games in a season plus NT appearances would be foolish. Therefore Fab and Thiago could also games starting together.

As for who will start the big games, well the obvious choice is Fabregas due to his age and experience however if Thiago can cut out some of the poorer aspects of his game such as giving away the ball then that could change. I think Fabregas for now is the better goalscorer but he's no Frank Lampard in that respect either. Iniesta is a pretty poor goalscorer and it has never held him back.

I'm very hopeful that both players will play a big part for us this decade.

 

[Deco 20]

So Gerd Müller had great "Ball control and technique"? The guy was a poacher.

more importantly, he was a striker

 

[Youngie]

more importantly, he was a striker

As is Zlatan for example. He has exceptional technique but he doesn't need to use it to put the ball in the back of the net.

 

[Kerrybai]

The best thing about Thiago for me is that he makes football look like ballet, just like Zidane used to do.

 

[Irish_Cules]

So Gerd Müller had great "Ball control and technique"? The guy was a poacher.

Well he had the technique of being able to stick the ball in the back of the net and bring it under control to do so. I'm not saying this was an outstanding aspect of his game but if he had the touch of a donkey he wouldn't have scored so many goals.

Anyway, that's besides my point. You're talking about an out and out striker there when the debate was over other positions also such as midfield and other attacking roles. A midfield player is far more likely to create a chance for somebody or get himself into a position to score a goal if he has good ball control and technique. Its common sense. Obviously there are other factors such as positioning, determination and so forth. However, you cant just dismiss other footballing qualities by saying goals win games and since player X scores more than player Y, player X he is better. This may be the case a lot of the time but not always. Football isn't that simple.

For example, over recent years Fabregas has scored many more goals than Xavi and sometimes more assists but who has been the better footballer? With all due respect to Fabregas' outstanding ability, I think its widely accepted that Xavi has been the better player.

 

[Youngie]

I think we're talking about different "ball control & technique". I'm talking about Thiago's ball control:

Obviously Thiago's "ball control" above is outlandish but it won't win Barça any games...

 

[Irish_Cules]

As for who will start the big games, well the obvious choice is Fabregas due to his age and experience however if Thiago can cut out some of the poorer aspects of his game such as giving away the ball then that could change. I think Fabregas for now is the better goalscorer but he's no Frank Lampard in that respect either. Iniesta is a pretty poor goalscorer and it has never held him back.

I'm very hopeful that both players will play a big part for us this decade.

I'm very hopeful of this also and while everyone will probably be happy for a few years there will come a point where one of them may be fed up. I am making the presumption that Iniesta will maintain a high standard until the age of 35 or so and will remain first choice until then. He will be 35 in 6 years time. By then Fabregas will be 31 and Thiago 28. If Iniesta remains first choice in the big matches until this time, will both Cesc and Thiago stick around for that long? It is not guaranteed. However, maybe there will be room for all three players, or maybe Iniesta will decline sooner than this and this problem wont come to fruition. ( I somehow doubt the Iniesta decling scenario )

 

[barca7788]

The best thing about Thiago for me is that he makes football look like ballet, just like Zidane used to do.

hmmmm definitely overrating the guy.

 

[Irish_Cules]

I think we're talking about different "ball control & technique". I'm talking about Thiago's ball control:

Obviously Thiago's "ball control" above is outlandish but it won't win Barça any games...

So if Thiago does some brilliant control in or around the box that allows him to score or set up the winning goal in a match......it wont win Barca the game?

 

[Youngie]

So if Thiago does some brilliant control in or around the box that allows him to score or set up the winning goal in a match......it wont win Barca the game?

I'm referring to the above video. Will that ball control win Barça the game or not?

 

[Irish_Cules]

I'm referring to the above video. Will that ball control win Barça the game or not?

Well not in that particular case but having the ability to do that could win Barca a game. You can't just refer to one specific incident in a match which we clearly see didn't win the game and not take into account the possibility of him using such technique and ball control to contribute to winning a match.

 

[Ode to Django]

I'm referring to the above video. Will that ball control win Barça the game or not?

 

[Youngie]

Well not in that particular case but having the ability to do that could win Barca a game. You can't just refer to one specific incident in a match which we clearly see didn't win the game and not take into account the possibility of him using such technique and ball control to contribute to winning a match.

He'd need to be doing it now! Thiago clearly has the potential to be a game winner. Less "flash" and more "clutch" and he should be OK. My point is he does too many pointless tricks that only look good for the cameras.

 

[Deco 20]

Would you prefer him to miscontrol the ball and give it away to the opposition like some players we've had in our team?